Concrete admixture stabilizes tallest building in European Union

The Shard, named by its creator for its resemblance to a shard of glass, is the tallest building in the European Union, measuring 1,016 feet.

August 08, 2012 |

By Nicole Bowling, Associate Editor

The Shard, named by its creator for its resemblance to a shard of glass, is the tallest building in the European Union, measuring 1,016 feet. Xypex Concrete Waterproofing C-1000 admixture was used to waterproof capping beams and other elements of the building. The technology exploits concrete’s inherent water permeability to deliver crystalline chemicals that plug the material’s pores and bridge microcracks that occur as the concrete dries and shrinks. The admixture uses water in the capillary tracts as a diffusing medium to carry waterproofing chemicals into the concrete.